Robot Pixels

Imagine if you took pixels off a computer screen, zoomed in, and could watch as they moved in complex patterns in space, changing color all the while. This is what the SENSEable City Laboratory and ARES Lab have been working on.

Called Flyfire, the single “pixels” are single gyroscopes that have a controlled flight. They also change colors, and are incredibly coordinated. They’re able to act together and create two-dimensional pictures. They can also organize themselves into three-dimensional patterns, such as waves, hills, and more.